Robot Cousin Soundworks

Everyone remember Zed?

For anyone who might not, here’s a quick blurb, from the link I just posted.

ZeD was a Canadian variety television program and website. The series premiered on CBC Television in March 2002 and ran to 2006. Hosted primarily by Sharon Lewis and Ziya Tong, ZeD publicized creative works from Canada and other countries, including a substantial portion of material created by viewers and new artists. ZeD thus considered itself to be “open-source television.”^[1]

It was a pretty neat show, I must admit. I really liked it. Liked it so much, I submitted quite a few tracks for it. This was during my Halifax months, from 2002-2003. So you’d have a profile on there, and you’d upload whatever you wanted to, and then the show would then, at no charge, but also with no payment to you (who cares!) choose from a bunch of the content online to showcase each week. Well, imagine my intense excitement when a track of mine was actually featured! Yes, my music was going to be on national tv!!

The track was called ‘Crimson Head’, and, at the time, I was very proud of it. Thought it sounded good, and had a good flow. I listen to it now, and can still sort of pull some of those feelings up from the grave of the past, but mostly, I cringe. I cringe when listening to a lot of my older stuff. Hell, some of my newer stuff as well. But you know what? I kept writing, I kept going.

“You have to get all of the bad songs out of you, so you can start writing the good ones.”

I’m not sure who first said that, but it certainly fits. Anyway, this track was, at the time, my pride and joy, my finest accomplishment, my little electronic opus (don’t worry, it’s only like 4 minutes long). It ended up getting the attention of certain people. I tried to write more like it, but apparently, that failed.

And today, I’m going to let you all hear it.

Crimson Head

From the moment I touched it, I wanted it. The settings, the controls, the feel, the name behind it. A long time ago, when getting paid for music was a concept MUCH farther away than it is nowadays, I saw it at a Musicstop in Halifax.

The Roland V-Synth.

The D-Beam, the Time Trip Pad, and everything else it offers is like some sort of insane ’synth-fiction’ creation, designed to conjure up the craziest sound imagineable. One of the last bastions of hardware synths.

And therein lies my problem. If, and that’s a big ‘if’, I get funding for building my studio, then that would be my chance! My chance to finally have a V-synth of my very own. You see, outside of a silly little Yamaha basic, non-MIDI keyboard, I’ve never owned a hardware synth. I’ve been totally software-based since I began. I want to change, I want to plunge in and own it, both physically, and musically. I want the tactile advantage of a hardware synth.

But at what cost? What would I replace in my studio? It’s a give and take, because I’ve only budgeted for a certain amount, and right now, that includes what I think I need so far. Do I cut something else out? Pianoteq? Heavyocity Evolve? The Mac Pro? The sound treatment? The extra monitors? Some of these are a definite ‘no’.

Choices, choices. But hey, I would much rather be in a position of trying to decide what gear to get and what to pass on, than to not be purchasing any at all.

No complaints, just thoughts.

I’m going to take a little break from audio-talk to discuss something very important.

Google Documents.

I have now converted to ‘the cloud’, as it were. Cloud computing is definitely a very excellent thing. After years of dealing with Open/Neo Office, and the inconsistencies and weird quirks, I am finished with them. The Google Spreadsheet app alone is worth the cost… if there was one. But, as with pretty much all things Google (save for the Android), it’s completely free.

And the fact that I can access it from anywhere that has access to the internet (and doesn’t have the site blocked) and I’m golden. Add to that the fact that I was able to share a document to another GMail user (could’ve shared with multiple users too!) in the blink of an eye, and now, I’m just left really trying to find a downside to all of it. Is there one? Internet connection required? That’s almost a given for anyone, anyway.

If you haven’t checked out Google Docs yet, I highly suggest you give it a while. And hey, if you want to share a document with me, send it along to slaptheolsentwins (at) gmail (dot) com.

Project R/’Recession: The Rock Opera’ is still being hammered out, note by note, instrument by instrument. I’m having a bit of difficulty with one of the pieces, as there’ll be a lot of orchestration from things like horns and strings, and those are some of the hardest to fake through virtual instruments. Also, my computer is choking. Yay for the ‘Track Freeze’ option (think “Flatten Layers”, if coming from the Photoshop side of things), but even then, you can only freeze so much and get away with it.

On the RPM side of things, I’m actually coming up with a lot of good stuff… which is a problem (for RPM at least). I actually want to turn these into real tracks. And I know that just because they’re for RPM doesn’t mean they didn’t happen, but I don’t think I could bring myself to put a song into two groups. If I actually had a record deal, and was making songs, b-sides would be b-sides, and the track list of an album would be that and only that, not songs from another place or anything like that. Billy Corgan has the same sort of hangup, so I guess I have him to thank for that way of thinking. I can’t help it! It’s a rule, but one I haven’t had to enforce just yet.

So I’m left with about 3 tracks worth of stuff I really, really like, and refuse to put towards RPM, even though I’ve come up with them, and recorded them within February. Will I finish my RPM album? Looks like no. Does this bother me? Not in the least.

RPM is doing what it was meant to do, and for that, I am thankful.

An ode to my favourite plugin of all-time, Modartt’s Pianoteq.

I don’t have room for
All of those huge sample sets
15 Megs is great.

The sound is awesome
Procedurally Perfect
Mic Placement as well

Modartt Hit it big
Pianoteq is quite “Grand”
Diff’rent tunings rock

Generate at once
A totally brand new sound
Not the same next time

Site update 50% done. Actually, all I really did was change the background image (still not happy with it, but perhaps I’ll change it yet) and the header image. Anyway, at least it’s all blue now. Might work out the grey on the page as well.

In music-news, work began on my RPM album last night. I put down the basics of the first track. I know it’s going to be the first track because it’s precisely how I want to open the whole thing. A sonic kick in the face to let you know “You’re Here Now.” Hmm.. maybe I’ll call it that.

Work continues on the musical. Getting a really good, gradiose chord progression, but I won’t say yet what it is. It’s got to be something that sounds grand, something that causes people to immediately take notice. It also has to kick you in the face, sonically.

So much violence, next to no silence.

With the RPM album (that’s already got a title!), I’m finding it a bit tought to make music for myself. Does it sound good to me? Does it really, really matter this time? Sort of yes to both. All I know is, good or bad, I’m going to release this by March 1st. Well, I’ll be putting it online for my site probably the same time it goes up on rpmchallenge.com, so you can decide where you want to listen to it (or if you want to listen to it at all).

I wish I had more to add, but I don’t.

February is going to be a busy month. People reading this can look forward to the following:

• New Site Layout – Not too radically different than what’s already here, but as mentioned previously, you’ll have to update your bookmarks (unless subscribing via RSS, which you should be) to go to www.robotcousin.com/blog. Also, a colour change is happening. Apparently, orange is the colour of unpredictability and being unstable. As much as I would like to say that I’m going to model it after the music I want to make, for visitors, it doesn’t seem that welcoming.
• More music – RPM Challenge 2010 is soon underway (and if you’re not making music for it, at least check out the page to see what’s what. Root for me or something), and I’ll be posting a bit of music on here at first, I think. A little way to keep myself motivated. When it’s all said and done, I’ll take whatever half-finished idea I posted and exchange it for the ‘real-deal’, so there won’t be two versions of tracks floating around.
• Some Third Thing I Can’t Remember.
• Updated clips for the demo reel – I did music and sound for Manic Chiropractic, why not put a clip up? Why am I asking you?

Out.

Soon enough, this blog will be located a short e-distance away at www.robotcousin.com/blog (which, depending on how old this post is to you, might be the URL you’re at right now). I’ve decided that if I want this site to look more professional, perhaps the blog shouldn’t be the first thing that hits you in the face when you visit the site. In a way, it’s sort of roundabout to find the demo reel (it’s a link at the top, btw), and it’s not even formatted well when you get there.

I believe it’s high time for me to do some photoshoppery and slicing to get a nice splash page there with a link to the blog, as well as a new demo reel page, and whatnot.

Time to get serious about all this now.

There are always things I want to learn. Sometimes, I find it really tough, other times I find it not challenging enough, but I always want to learn new things, especially if it expands on something I already basically know. I’m going to try and set some goals for myself this year, in reference to me learning new things. For example, this year I want to learn the following (or at least make an attempt)

• 1- Modes (Lydian, Phrygian, etc) – I know what they’re for, but having them memorized would really help. Maybe that doesn’t count in “learning” them, as all it is to me at this point would be pattern recognition, rather than the understanding I already have/had of them, but I want to learn/memorize them nonetheless.
• 2- All of my synths – I know how synths work, so when someone says to increase the attack time on the envelope generator, I know where to go. That’s not enough, though. If you take a synth like the ImpOscar or especially the Minimonstah, even though you know the functionality of each control on its own, I could really use to get to know my synths, as it can only help me get where I want to go faster. See also: quadraSID… that one’s currently a bit of a mystery.
• 3- Flash Scripting (edit – found a good resource!) – quite a change from the musical goals above, but I believe having a basic-to-good understanding on how to actually get something done in Flash would really benefit not only this site, but perhaps any program I may think of making in the future… which brings me to…
• 4- Programming/C++ – This was a goal for last year as well, and I’ve checked out a lot of resources I’ve been given, and this is something I could definitely grasp. Alongside this, I would love to get to the point of making an iPhone app or game.

So, as of right now, that’s what I want to fill my brain up with this coming year. Easier said than done, but I have a number of books on a few of the topics listed above, so at least I could take some of it in while being stuck at work.

So, people out there reading… is there anything you’d like to learn in the near future?

It’s out, it’s official; Project R has been announced. Check it out here.

The real name for it is “Bail-out! A Recessionary Rock Opera”. It’s a collaboration between myself, Chris Fulton, and Josh Linton, my friends from Fetal Films. I’ve worked with these two with both “Gamer’s Manifesto”, and more recently “Manic Chiropractic”.

I’m not going to give too much away, but I can say this: It’s going to be a short musical (it IS based on volunteer work through the NB Film Co-op, after all), and it will also be the first musical done through the co-op. It centers around one man’s plight with downsizing at his previously-well-paying job, all done through song! We’re planning on having about 5 songs in it, each about 3-4 minutes long, and I’ve already begun to write the music for it (rough demos, nothing polished yet. Drums aren’t timed up, nothing mixed, it’s all too loud, no vocals, it’s like everything is sonic drywall right now. Just the chords, and the melody-thus-far.) The lyrics are pretty much done, although up for tweaking if necessary

From the NB Film Co-op E-News…

Fetal Films and Robot Cousin Soundworks team up to rock the Recession in 2010!

The Great Recession of ‘08 calls up many colourful images; ashen, grey-suited hedge-fund managers fleeing AIG and Lehman Brothers like so many rats from a sinking ship; Red-faced right-wingers shouting “socialist!” in the faces of those who dared question the virtues of unbridled free-market capitalism; And of course, the sparkling, shiny bail-out greenbacks supposed to make it all just go away.

With such a rainbow-palette to draw from, Fetal Films (Photo of Chris Fulton to left by Jeff Crawford) (Chris Fulton and Josh Linton) and Robot Cousin Soundworks (Jordan Roherty) thought: “hey, why not set this hot mess to music?” And so a rock opera was borne…

“Bail-out! A Recessionary Rock Opera” – a unique musical film project in the history of NB indy film…

Fetal Films’ past work – the Silver Wave Best NB Comedy Award-winning films “Gamers’ Manifesto” and “Manic Chiropractic” – were films of modest ambition; few sets, a small crew, no pricey film-stock – films about slackers produced by slackers. So, to help them pull off the garish spectacle that is the modern musical, Fulton (Writer/Director/Co-producer), Linton (Lead Actor/Co-producer) and Roherty (Composer/Co-producer) are calling on some of the usual suspects to lend them a hand. From Moncton, Danny Thebeau on Camera, from Fredericton, Jen Chiasson rocking the Editing Suite, with other frequent collaborators having their numbers called soon. In addition to the familiar, Fulton and Linton will be rounding out the group with song and dance professionals, including a much-needed choreographer to harness and channel Linton’s raw, natural rhythm into a mainstream dance-style.

The Fetal Film folks are trying (Josh Linton to right) to bring something unique to the NB indy film scene, but will need support from the NB film community at large – we hope to feed off of your enthusiasm to push us through the process and hold us accountable to you, the NB film fans.

Regular updates will be posted on the e-news feed. Will be holding auditions in the months to come, so look for alerts in the e-news and on Facebook.

Anyone interested in dropping a line of encouragement, or for more info, you can reach Chris and Josh of Fetal Films at: recessionrockopera@gmail.com

Thanks!
Chris, on behalf of Josh and Jordan.

Winning films “Gamers’ Manifesto” and “Manic Chiropractic” - were films of modest ambition; few sets, a small crew, no pricey film-stock – films about slackers produced by slackers.  So, to help them pull off the garish spectacle that is the modern musical, Fulton (Writer/Director/Co-producer), Linton (Lead Actor/Co-producer) and Roherty (Composer/Co-producer) are calling on some of the usual suspects to lend them a hand.  From Moncton, Danny Thebeau on Camera, from Fredericton, Jen Chiasson rocking the Editing Suite, with other frequent collaborators having their numbers called soon.  In addition to the familiar, Fulton and Linton will be rounding out the group with song and dance professionals, including a much-needed choreographer to harness and channel Linton’s raw, natural rhythm into a mainstream dance-style.

The Fetal Film folks are trying to bring something unique to the NB indie film scene, but will need support from the NB film community at large – we hope to feed off of your enthusiasm to push us through the process and hold us accountable to you, the NB film fans.

Regular updates will be posted on the e-news feed.  Will be holding auditions in the months to come, so look for alerts in the e-news and on Facebook.

Anyone interested in dropping a line of encouragement, or for more info, you can reach Chris and Josh of Fetal Films at: recessionrockopera@gmail.com.

The holidays have just passed, and with them they have brought many nice things for me, and hopefully for all of you out there reading this. Two things of note:

• ARTcessories Zdirect Di Box! Haven’t tested it out yet, but I will be soon.
• “Sometimes I Rhyme” by Curtis Carey of The Curtis and Tara Show.

“Sometimes I Rhyme” was a wonderful surprise and a fantastic gift. From the rhyming stories about a jungle gym with an appetite, to breasts, shortcut keys for Adobe Flash, and even Jesus vs Buddha, this book of absurd and awesome poems should probably be on your list of neat gifts to give people who appreciate neat gifts. I’ve already decided that I’ll be picking it up for someone who I previously couldn’t think of anything to get.

Also, if you’re not listening to their podcast, you obviously hate fun. See below:

All this time, recording the electric guitar signal straight into my Firewire Solo’s line input. Never using a DI box.

What was I thinking?! I’ll be picking up a passive one in the next little while. Gah, it’s like I learned nothing in my course.

EDIT (5 minutes later): Ok, weird… if you do a Google search for Firewire Solo DI Box, this post shows up on the first page. Man, those guys/that algorithm works fast!

Crazy deal available until Dec 31st 2009

You buy and register one of their listed products (StealthPedal, StealthPedal Deluxe, AmpliTube 2, AmpliTube 2 Crossgrade, AmpliTube Fender™, Ampeg® SVX, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™, AmpliTube Metal), and then you get to choose from THREE (3) of their plugins (AmpliTube 2 Crossgrade, Ampeg® SVX, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™, AmpliTube Metal, T-RackS 3 Standard, SampleTank 2.5 L, Miroslav Philharmonik CE)

Just got this email from IK Multimedia. I would jump at this deal if I could afford it right now, but unfortunately, I cannot. A few years ago, I did participate in a group buy deal from IK, and I ended up with a ton of samples (SampleTank 2) I never use (it doesn’t really seem like they work… sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t, maybe I’m missing something, maybe I didn’t care enough), but it came with Amplitube 2, which was the free plugin they let me choose. This looks like an incredible deal, but even though I’d be saving $900, I’d be spending over $200 that I don’t currently have to spend.

If only this deal had shown up sometime early next year. I would absolutely love to have that pedal.

The plugins I would probably choose would be Ampeg, T-Racks, and Amplitube Jimi Hendrix. A lot of people prefer Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig, and I’ve tried it, but there’s something about Amplitube 2 that just got me from the start. I think it’s the wonderful crunch sound they emulate that I had difficulty emulating in GR. Perhaps it’s because it seems to take few system resources to run.

Choices, choices.

I’m window-shopping for a new audio interface. Right now, I have the M-Audio Firewire Solo, and it is, truly, nothing fancy. Can’t do surround, and the drivers are usually late. For example, I upgrade to Snow Leopard a while ago, as I posted, totally forgetting the fact that I should check my drivers before doing so. Sure enough, The last ones to be released at that time were for 10.5.7 or .8. I’ve been using some sort of weird work-around that someone posted on their forums, and it’s actually treating me better than 10.4.11’s drivers ever could. For example, no longer does my sound totally fail me me if I put the computer to sleep while a program that’s using audio is currently running (like Safari, if I’m on a youtube page or something). I haven’t had to restart the system (for that reason) since I’ve upgraded. That’s just one problem fixed, though.

Anyway, I’m tired of the FW Solo, I’m tired of buggy software and unreliable hardware. I’m tired of not even having the option to create a surround sound mix, regardless of whether or not I have the monitors to support it (that’ll be a post for another day). I want to upgrade, and when I get the money for the studio, I’ll be doing so! My criteria are as follows:

• Must already be supported in 10.6/Snow Leopard (shouldn’t be a problem, but it’s definitely a requirement)
  Must have more than 5 outputs for surround sound support.
  Must have ADAT optical IO, in the event that I need it later on.
  Must be less than $2,000 CDN, as that’s the maximum I’m allowing myself to possibly budget for, but I’d like it to be cheaper.

So, with that criteria in place, the main contenders are:

1. Motu 828 MKIII ($870)
2. RME Fireface 400 ($1,469)
3. Apogee Ensemble ($1,984)

For prices, I’ve taken them all from Saved By Technology, a fantastic site that caters to both US and Canadian residents for pretty much all of their digital audio needs.

Wow, while I was looking all of this up, I also found that SbT is selling a Mackie Control Universal Pro for $1,367! Well, I think that cuts a LOT of this short, since I’ve heard excellent things about the MOTU 828 MKIII, and have always really really wanted the MCU Pro.

So, thoughts?

I’m starting to document my possibly-long-road to success in building my own home recording studio.

I currently own a duplex, and am only using one-half of it. It came to me while we (Krista and I) were in search of tenants that I could apply for a government loan to actually build the beginnings of a home studio. Since I’ve graduated, I’ve always wanted to start my own studio, but I kept thinking “too big” (rent out building space, thus incurring even more monthly rent fees, commercial ones at that), or “too small” (Hey, I can work from my basement! Yeah!!). Being a duplex, it obviously has its own entrance, independant of where we actually live. It has 3 bedrooms, at least one of which would be used as a “live” room. The living room is very open and attached to the kitchen. This all came to me one night, and kept me up until 4am. It was wonderful and terrible all at once.

So I’ve decided to take this little corner of the web to document what will be happening over the next… however-long in my quest to finally build my own studio.

Here’s hoping this all comes together. In saying that, does anyone have any idea of where I can go to get money? I’ll be going to try and get a SEED loan, but who knows how that’ll work. I’m totally in the dark when it comes to any sort of Federal loan or grant program. Help?